Nintendo held a new Direct this afternoon — what did we learn about the future of the Switch? And is the 3DS’s destiny still nothing but microwaved Wii and Wii U leftovers?
The Switch’s future looks bright (and we were right about the 3DS). Isabelle is heading to Smash. Nintendo Switch Online will launch in five days and will contain online versions of Dr. Mario, Double Dragon, River City Ransom, Super Dodgeball and other late 80s classics. There will even be wireless NES controllers that plug into the Joy-Con ports, though for some greedy reason they cost 60 bucks a pair.
As always, we’ve arranged today’s schedule announcements in chronological order. Pick the months in which your wallet will take the most hits….
Final Fantasy XV Pocket Edition — today
Cities Skylines: Nintendo Switch Edition — today
Yo-Kai Watch Blasters (3DS) — today
Nintendo Switch Online — September 18
After multiple delays, Nintendo’s paid online service is about to activate. All your online games will need a membership from that point; no more free rides for you. Fortunately it’s only $19.99 a year.
Capcom Beat-em-up Bundle — September 19
Mario Tennis Aces Version 2 Update — September 19
Adds a co-op challenge and two new characters.
Xenoblade Chronicles 2: Torna The Golden Country DLC — September 21
FIFA 19 — September 28
Mega Man 11 — October 2
Super Mario Party — October 5
The World Ends With You: Final Remix — October 12
Luigi’s Mansion (3DS) — October 12
Starlink: Battle for Atlas — October 16
Now with Fox McCloud!
Lego DC Super-Villains — October 16
Just Dance 2019 — October 23 (this is also coming out for the original Wii….the target demographic isn’t very tech-savvy)
Super Smash Bros Ultimate Bundle — November 2
Super Smash Bros Gamecube Controller And Adapter — November 2
You notice something about this bundle…it’s coming out a month before Smash Ultimate does. A code for a digital copy is inside, but you won’t get to download it for several weeks. If this is your introduction to the Switch, you better buy another game!
Diablo III Eternal Collection — November 2
World of Final Fantasy Maxima — November 6
Pokemon Let’s Go Pikachu and Let’s Go Eevee — November 16
Civilization VI — November 16
Warframe — November 20
NBA 2K Playgrounds 2 — Fall 2018
Tabletop games in digital form from Asmodee — December 2018
Carcassonne, Lord of the Rings Living Card Game, Pandemic, Catan Universe and Munchkin are all on the way.
Katamari Damacy Reroll — Winter 2018
Biggest and best surprise of the “republished” crowd. We haven’t seen this game in ages.
Team Sonic Racing — Winter 2018
Chockbo’s Mystery Dungeon: Everybuddy! — Winter 2018
New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe — January 11, 2019
Nabbit and Toadette will be playable. Now the only first-party Nintendo title that hasn’t migrated over to Switch is Super Mario Maker. Wonder what the holdup is.
Mario & Luigi: Bowser’s Inside Story + Bowser Jr’s Journey (3DS) — January 11, 2019
Yoshi’s Crafted World — Spring 2019
Daemon X Machina — 2019
Kirby’s Extra Epic Yarn (3DS) — 2019
Town — 2019
From Game Freak. Believe it or not, this isn’t the finalized title.
Luigi’s Mansion 3 — 2019
We really should’ve seen it coming, with all the ports 1 and 2 have gotten lately.
Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles Remastered Edition — 2019
If the Direct hadn’t been delayed, this would’ve been a surprise, but here it is again.
Final Fantasy VII, IX, X and X-2 — 2019
Switch ports of some of Final Fantasy’s finest moments. It’s about time these were on a Nintendo console.
Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age — 2019
And we’re also getting something more recent! The remastered FFXII is coming to Switch too.
Animal Crossing — 2019
That’s correct….for Switch. We finally have a date! A vague one, but any confirmation is good!